DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE IS A CHILD'S RIGHT

On Emirati Children's Day, the focus turns to empowering young minds online

- BY HANADI AL YAFEI | Special to Gulf News

very generation grows up in a world shaped by the tools and knowledge of its time. Today’s children are growing up in a digital world that influences how they learn, how they communicate and how they understand the realities around them. If we recognise education as a fundamental right of every child, then we must also recognise that digital knowledge needs to become an essential part of that right.

Digital literacy can no longer be treated as an optional educational topic or a supplementary skill. It is now a necessity for participation in modern society and a prerequisite for preparing children to navigate the future with awareness and confidence. As the UAE continues its rapid digital transformation, this responsibility becomes even more urgent.

Significant transformation

The country's progress in digital infrastructure, innovation and smart services is reshaping the way people live, work and learn. For children, this transformation is particularly significant. The digital environment is not simply a tool they use occasionally; it has become a daily space where they encounter information, form opinions and interact with others.